The 2015 General Election Megathread

[Hasselhoff]

Well who are you accusing because of her tweet. Be honest?

People on Twitter and here who accused her of lying and were tweeting the picture of a different Annan voting station as evidence she was talking nonsense. Lets just say it appeared to be the anti-Tories that were doing it.

Edited May 10, 2015 by Hasselhoff

[Thunderstruck]

Mandelson on marr - the guy is toxic. Labour lost because they discarded new labour?? And the union link must be broken. Man is and will be a tosser

Sturgeon on Marr: "Half of the Scottish population voted SNP". Not even close, Nicola.

[LeftBack]

Sturgeon on Marr: "Half of the Scottish population voted SNP". Not even close, Nicola.

so what was percentage share? Edited May 10, 2015 by Harry's Roar

[GBJambo]

I'm sorry you cant count them if they didn't vote Tory, no matter the reason.

I didn't count them.

[Gorgiewave]

As you dont live here you will be surprised how united the country is under Nicola'

 

 

We want what is fair for Scotlland and he rest of the Union ( did i get that right ? )

 

 

The SNP isveverything that i good about society

 

Steered by the people

 

 

One of the best quotes from Nicol Sturgeon...................

 

 

" I am not here to win your votes i am here to project the will of the Scottish people"

 

Compare that to any political leader in Great Britain today

 

 

People first <3

 

You've been duped "head, heart and soul".

 

It'll get better, hun xx.

 

 

Come on man, don't be modern:

 

Edited May 10, 2015 by Gorgiewave

[TheMaganator]

Did maganator not vote labour despite being a Tory?

 

Which was the only party which could keep out Tories? Labour. Every seat labour lost up here helped the Tories. Turns out labour did so poorly down South it didn't make any difference. Although no evidence, would not surprise me if a chunk of SNP vote was just to keep labour out in the UK

I did.

 

And based on my Facebook feed I know of at least 17 others that did so.

 

The Tories got 20k more votes than they did last time. Just because it was a higher turnout doesn't make that any less relevant.

 

As to the guy above (presumably shit faced) who said that Scotland was united under Nicola?!

 

There aren't enough on JKB

 

Truly and utterly deluded. And people who bang on about his educated they are - tend to be the exact opposite.

[jambo1185]

Tories believe they lost over 10% in east ren and 6% across Edinburgh due to tactical voting. Plus smaller amounts in most Labour strongholds. If the Tories haf held strong in Labour they could have pushed Jim into third but noone predicted his collapse would be quite so big. Plus they lost in likely Lib Dem transfer votes as those also often went to labour tactically.

 

eveb so, in 40 of 69 seats their vote went up. Improved their ranking in over 20 and sit second in 7 seats.

 

Their vote share fell slightly which is incredible give the huge Nationalist swings.

 

They had a very good night in the circumstances. If Lamont had sneaked his seat they would have been Scotlands second party. Anyone arguing the Tories haf a bad night in Scotland is wrong I'm afraid. Best election since 99 and most Scottish votes since 92. Held their ground as lib dem and Labour disintegrated.

 

They could have a very good Holyrood election on the list as SNP will mop up the constituency seats. Tactical voting in Labour's favour wont happen now as people see them as a busted flush and the last of any Lib Dem vote evaporates.

Edited May 10, 2015 by jambo1185

[Gorgiewave]

I did.

 

And based on my Facebook feed I know of at least 17 others that did so.

 

The Tories got 20k more votes than they did last time. Just because it was a higher turnout doesn't make that any less relevant.

 

As to the guy above (presumably shit faced) who said that Scotland was united under Nicola?!

 

There aren't enough on JKB

 

Truly and utterly deluded. And people who bang on about his educated they are - tend to be the exact opposite.

 

The way to become "politically educated" is to Do Your Own Research.

[Gorgiewave]

so what was percentage share?

 

27.2% of the entire population, 35% of the electorate, 49.97% of the voters.

[GBJambo]

27.2% of the entire population, 35% of the electorate, 49.97% of the voters.

Scotland is united behind the snp though!

 

Scotland has never been so divided.

[LeftBack]

27.2% of the entire population, 35% of the electorate, 49.97% of the voters.

thanks. You have to say that is a pretty good endorsement from voters. Certainly compared to other parties.

[LeftBack]

Scotland is united behind the snp though!

Scotland has never been so divided.

bit melodramatic imo. Im sure there are plenty of examples where the split of voters would demonstrate more of a division. Whilst this is a potentially radical vote it is merely another grain of sand in historys eggcup

[jambo1185]

thanks. You have to say that is a pretty good endorsement from voters. Certainly compared to other parties.

It is. Incredible result.

[RosscoC]

I did.

 

And based on my Facebook feed I know of at least 17 others that did so.

 

The Tories got 20k more votes than they did last time. Just because it was a higher turnout doesn't make that any less relevant.

 

As to the guy above (presumably shit faced) who said that Scotland was united under Nicola?!

 

There aren't enough on JKB

 

Truly and utterly deluded. And people who bang on about his educated they are - tend to be the exact opposite.

Share of vote down + no additional MPs = failure according to Davidson's targets.

[TheMaganator]

Share of vote down + no additional MPs = failure according to Davidson's targets.

Number of votes up = success according to theMaganator's targets.

[RosscoC]

Number of votes up = success according to theMaganator's targets.

So if Hearts won the league with 90 points, then the next season came second with 91 you would say the the 2nd season was a bigger success.

 

Good one.

[Gorgiewave]

What you'll never discover if you DYOR:

 

http://chokkablog.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/it-doesnt-matter.html?m=1

[TheMaganator]

So if Hearts won the league with 90 points, then the next season came second with 91 you would say the the 2nd season was a bigger success.

 

Good one.

Have a think about what you've posted and come back to me when you've figured out why it's complete and utter nonsense.

[Boab]

27.2% of the entire population, 35% of the electorate, 49.97% of the voters.

I'm not going to,GW, but we could put up those stats for every Election in the last, Christ, just about every Election and the numbers would suit the agenda of the loser.

Basically, putting those figures up means nothing so why are we going through with this charade ?

[jambo1185]

So if Hearts won the league with 90 points, then the next season came second with 91 you would say the the 2nd season was a bigger success.

 

Good one.

Erm. I think you mean if they came fourth on 90 points and then third on 91 points within three points of second would that be a better result. The answer is yes.

 

Because the Tories finished third in this general election having been fourth in 2010 and are now around 10 percentage points behind Labour instead of about 20.

Edited May 10, 2015 by jambo1185

[Geoff Kilpatrick]

Here's an interesting analysis on how tight it really was. It also highlights why the UK really needs electoral reform.

 

http://sluggerotoole.com/2015/05/09/all-the-right-votes-in-all-the-right-places-how-the-tory-electoral-strategy-triumphed/

[JamboX2]

As a dinosaur you should know that it is falling on deaf ears.

 

 

Have you got it yet.

 

Scots that live here are trying to do whats best  for them and the nation.

So social solidarity, policies aimed at the alleviation of inequalities and standing up for workers rights are not what's in the interests of the nation of Scotland? Rather what is important is giving Scotland a "louder voice"?

 

You see, I think Labour has lost out in Scotland for a number of reasons. The lack of using the independence campaign to reestablish links which were fading away with the communities it represented, to make the case for why the Union was, is and can be good for the poorest in Scotland and to grow its membership was a gift to the SNP who done all of that growing, connecting and offering a better future. The difference is with the defeat of Yes and a bare Tory majority (that will be tested over Europe as the leadership is staunchly pro-EU) the SNP have no ability to effectively implement the welfare and social changes they promised (which weren't radical or far reaching).

 

It's also the case that last week saw English nationalism vs Scottish nationalism. This suited the SNP who began a defensive "speak as One Scotland against the Tories rhetoric" and in England the Tories played up the fears of the SNP being some left wing group of Trots ready to shoot the Queen. None of which is helpful for the poor and vulnerable and those with disabilities who rely on the protection of the welfare state. None of which was addressing the problems of the low pay, low skills and unequal UK and Scottish economies. Yet Labour struggled to break that and transcend it.

 

The two faults of Labour. In Scotland wasting the time since 2011 to rebuild and reconnect at a time of active popular politics and in he election not breaking the media navel gazing on process politics about the SNP and Tories on nationalism.

 

So to ask you a question, what is more important to the Scottish people? Shouting loud about "Scotland" or the embedded problems of the UK and Scotland.

 

Because like it or not Scotland isn't a great place to be poor, unemployed or have disabilities - SNP political choices in Scotland have seen less social and council houses built, have seen existing stock diminish in standard, has seen educational inequalities increase and has seen health inequalities rise. And they have the power and have done for years to rig those wrongs.

 

Call me what you like, you can't escape those facts. Labour is broke and busted for now. Celebrate that. But let's see how well the SNP do in their place. In Scotland, I can guarantee they aren't. As someone who has family with special needs and living in social housing, it's hard for me to escape the reality of these failures.

[JamboX2]

The only people relevant to Scotland in the Cabinet are the PM, Chancellor, Foreign Secretary, Home Secretary, Defence Secretary and Culture Secretary. Others are Holyrood responsibilities. I'm not even sure what the point of the Scottish Secretary is any more.

Gove may be an arse but he won't be affecting Scots law.

Business Secretary, Work and Pensions Secretary, Energy Secretary and Environment has some roles as well.

[Geoff Kilpatrick]

Business Secretary, Work and Pensions Secretary, Energy Secretary and Environment has some roles as well.

Fair enough. I should have had an E & OE on my list

 

However, the point stands. Most ministries are devolved. Should more be devolved? Probably. Either way, worrying about who's appointed to roles that don't affect Scotland seems pointless to me.

[JAYEL]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I will leave it to others today

 

 

[JamboX2]

Fair enough. I should have had an E & OE on my list

 

However, the point stands. Most ministries are devolved. Should more be devolved? Probably. Either way, worrying about who's appointed to roles that don't affect Scotland seems pointless to me.

Yup. But you proved the fake care of the wider UK when you asked for the name of the Northern Irish Justice Minister. It is a particularly strange fascination with the English electorate that is being played out here.

 

I'm adamant that when MacAskill was making a mockery of his portfolio there weren't many beyond Scotland sitting around saying "in the name of progressive politics I will vote X in my seat to ensure MacAskill knows my dislike of sentencing policy in Scotland". I'm sure on that is not the case.

 

What I'd say is the HRA is a justice issue, when it should really be Home Office due to UK wide effect. Now, I'm a huge supporter in the HRA, but the lifeline is the Scotland Act 1998. An Act so well drafted eventualities and redundancies were considered. No law of the Scottish Parliament can be contrary to the European Convention of Human Rights. Scotland must always pass law which the legal office of the Scottish Parliament and Presiding Officer agree is consistent with the Convention. So repeal of the HRA and the implementation of a new Bill of Rights (which will contain the same rights) will not diminish human right protection of Scots. But any alterations to appeal to Strasbourg and the court on human rights there (a non-EU court) may well be affected by such a new law. That is where my concern lies. And the Tory right want a total withdrawal from right of appeal to the Court.

 

But as a peice of drafting and as a law, the Human Rights Act is a thing of beauty and a masterpiece of Labour policy. To see it go sends the wrong messages and projects a bad image to the world and undermines principled foreign policy.

[Boab]

[manaliveits105]

So 35% of the electorate voted snp - anyone know where I can get a  35 badge ?

[Boof]

So 35% of the electorate voted snp - anyone know where I can get a  35 badge ?

 

Not sure - maybe from the same place that sells '47' badges. You know...the (rounded up) percentage of the electorate who voted 'No' to Scottish independence.

[Boof]

That's not to say they shouldn't do more on tax evasion etc. But there was very little talk in this election about doing better with the revenues the state already takes in.

 

Hear, hear to that. Well, hear, hear to your observation...not to the lack of commitment to spend better / more efficiently / however you wish to say it.

 

ps - presume you meant 'earn' at the end of the first paragraph?

[Hasselhoff]

Interesting fact I just read elsewhere....In 2010, Scotland had 53 MPs either in the cabinet or shadow cabinet. Now we have 2.

Edited May 10, 2015 by Hasselhoff

[freddiemac]

1 scottish Tory panda ,more power than 56 snp monkeys in westminster

[LeftBack]

1 scottish Tory panda ,more power than 56 snp monkeys in westminster

well that is my belief in democracy crushed.

[Sidsnot]

Ain't that the truth,and it takes a Labour rag to nail it.

 

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/po...nvince-5669783

 

WHY did 50 per cent of the electorate vote for a party that caters only for the richest one per cent wonders JOHN NIVEN.

 

I HATE to say it but I had a bad feeling about this one all along.

 

It reminded me very much of 1992, when everyone was stunned as John Major led the Tories to yet another victory.

 

Even David Cameron was astonished by the way the country voted. ?I didn?t quite believe we?d get to the place we?re in this morning,? he said on Friday morning.

 

An overall majority and all three key opposition leaders resigning by lunchtime? I bet he didn?t.

 

And what did this? How did the polls ? that were predicting an incredibly tight result ? get it so very wrong?

 

For one thing, rightly or wrongly, Ed Miliband couldn?t quite convince people he was a leader. But greater than this, and much more sinister, were the shy Tories.

 

They?re people who would be embarrassed to admit to pollsters that they vote Conservative ? because they know in their hearts that they are awful. The party of the selfish and mean-spirited.

 

Sadly, it seems that Britain (with the exception of you know who) is a country full of selfish and mean-spirited people. The kind who would publicly say "oh I?m not voting Tory"? and then skulk into a booth and do just that because they think they?ll be a tiny bit better off.

 

Or because they were scared by the threat of a mansion tax that will never ever affect them. Or scared of immigrants who do not hurt them in any way. Or scared by the idea of Scottish MPs coming to run their country. (Man, the Tories really flogged that one to death. And it worked.)

 

Where did all this self-interest come from? It?s not how I was raised. I grew up believing we were okay as a family and we?d generally be okay because our dad had a good job and worked hard.

 

You didn?t vote for you. You voted to help those who weren?t as lucky as you. And, it must be said, in the hope that if you ever had a bad break, a lost job, a rotten diagnosis, someone would do the same for you.

 

But now we live in a country where you can, as my parents used to say, work all the hours God sends and get nowhere. Because (despite the Tories? claims about all the new jobs they?ve created) you?ll probably be working on minimum wage on a zero-hours contract.

 

Meanwhile, there are people in London who have become millionaires only because their parents bought a house 30 years ago.

 

This is the kind of society the Conservatives love, of course ? a place where wealth is inherited and where the many toil for the benefit of the few.

 

It is a society where the last 10 years have only truly benefited the richest one per cent.

 

And yet more than 50 per cent of the electorate voted for the party that caters to this one per cent.

 

They voted for the party who brought in welfare cuts unseen since the depression, who are destroying the NHS and who introduced the bedroom tax. They voted for their own tiny, narrow bit of self-interest.

 

And isn?t the bedrock of a decent society how we treat the weakest? Isn?t it what we do for others?

 

It seems we?re moving towards the American phenomenon of the right-wing poor ? people on

welfare who vote Republican because they believe the Horatio Alger myth: the idea they are just one stroke of good fortune away from being rich. Who think of themselves not as poor but being, as Steinbeck said, ?temporarily embarrassed millionaires?.

 

Except, as I mentioned, in Scotland. You can choose to view the SNP?s destruction of Labour north of the border as a howl of nationalism. I don?t think it is ? or not just that at any rate. I think it?s a howl of rage at this terrible government and a Labour Party who?ve become much too like it.

 

When I was a boy during Thatcher, you watched elections and wept in disbelief as the whole country turned blue, Scotland turned red and we still got the Tories. Now Scotland has turned SNP yellow and the Tories are still in power.

 

This was my son?s first general election. The is the first time he got to vote. It was eerily reminiscent of the first time I voted, in 1987.

 

Son, I know you?re a good, decent socialist so I can only say one thing. I know your pain.

[Sidsnot]

Meant to add,it was it was written by John Niven.

[Psychedelicropcircle]

Think this thread should be closed now, perhaps jKBs better together coalition could start a new thread called we hate the SNP! Then they can continually bitch about Their parties being pumped out of Scottish politics.

Edited May 10, 2015 by Psychedelicropcircle

[Stuart Lyon]

No need to bitch on my part. My party lost and another one won significantly. I may not like it but that's democracy. I don't understand why it happened as I still can't find any evidence of the progressive policies the SNP continually brag about so can't see how they are attractive to those that voted them in.

 

I suspect that eventually the SNP will be found out but who knows what damage will be caused by then.

 

I'll keep the Red Flag flying high.

[Seymour M Hersh]

No need to bitch on my part. My party lost and another one won significantly. I may not like it but that's democracy. I don't understand why it happened as I still can't find any evidence of the progressive policies the SNP continually brag about so can't see how they are attractive to those that voted them in.

 

I suspect that eventually the SNP will be found out but who knows what damage will be caused by then.

 

I'll keep the Red Flag flying high.

 

Their only policy/mantra is; we're going to Tax Spend & Borrow, like there's no tomorrow.

[Stuart Lyon]

Seymour - I get that bit but what's progressive about that. 

[Sidsnot]

Their only policy/mantra is; we're going to Tax Spend & Borrow, like there's no tomorrow.

You mean like the way the Tories have given us ?1.5 of debt?

Try getting out of that one.

[Stuart Lyon]

So the SNP will just be a Tory lite and follow their example. Sounds a good idea.

[LeftBack]

Ain't that the truth,and it takes a Labour rag to nail it.

 

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/po...nvince-5669783

 

WHY did 50 per cent of the electorate vote for a party that caters only for the richest one per cent wonders JOHN NIVEN.

 

I HATE to say it but I had a bad feeling about this one all along.

 

It reminded me very much of 1992, when everyone was stunned as John Major led the Tories to yet another victory.

 

Even David Cameron was astonished by the way the country voted. ?I didn?t quite believe we?d get to the place we?re in this morning,? he said on Friday morning.

 

An overall majority and all three key opposition leaders resigning by lunchtime? I bet he didn?t.

 

And what did this? How did the polls ? that were predicting an incredibly tight result ? get it so very wrong?

 

For one thing, rightly or wrongly, Ed Miliband couldn?t quite convince people he was a leader. But greater than this, and much more sinister, were the shy Tories.

 

They?re people who would be embarrassed to admit to pollsters that they vote Conservative ? because they know in their hearts that they are awful. The party of the selfish and mean-spirited.

 

Sadly, it seems that Britain (with the exception of you know who) is a country full of selfish and mean-spirited people. The kind who would publicly say "oh I?m not voting Tory"? and then skulk into a booth and do just that because they think they?ll be a tiny bit better off.

 

Or because they were scared by the threat of a mansion tax that will never ever affect them. Or scared of immigrants who do not hurt them in any way. Or scared by the idea of Scottish MPs coming to run their country. (Man, the Tories really flogged that one to death. And it worked.)

 

Where did all this self-interest come from? It?s not how I was raised. I grew up believing we were okay as a family and we?d generally be okay because our dad had a good job and worked hard.

 

You didn?t vote for you. You voted to help those who weren?t as lucky as you. And, it must be said, in the hope that if you ever had a bad break, a lost job, a rotten diagnosis, someone would do the same for you.

 

But now we live in a country where you can, as my parents used to say, work all the hours God sends and get nowhere. Because (despite the Tories? claims about all the new jobs they?ve created) you?ll probably be working on minimum wage on a zero-hours contract.

 

Meanwhile, there are people in London who have become millionaires only because their parents bought a house 30 years ago.

 

This is the kind of society the Conservatives love, of course ? a place where wealth is inherited and where the many toil for the benefit of the few.

 

It is a society where the last 10 years have only truly benefited the richest one per cent.

 

And yet more than 50 per cent of the electorate voted for the party that caters to this one per cent.

 

They voted for the party who brought in welfare cuts unseen since the depression, who are destroying the NHS and who introduced the bedroom tax. They voted for their own tiny, narrow bit of self-interest.

 

And isn?t the bedrock of a decent society how we treat the weakest? Isn?t it what we do for others?

 

It seems we?re moving towards the American phenomenon of the right-wing poor ? people on

welfare who vote Republican because they believe the Horatio Alger myth: the idea they are just one stroke of good fortune away from being rich. Who think of themselves not as poor but being, as Steinbeck said, ?temporarily embarrassed millionaires?.

 

Except, as I mentioned, in Scotland. You can choose to view the SNP?s destruction of Labour north of the border as a howl of nationalism. I don?t think it is ? or not just that at any rate. I think it?s a howl of rage at this terrible government and a Labour Party who?ve become much too like it.

 

When I was a boy during Thatcher, you watched elections and wept in disbelief as the whole country turned blue, Scotland turned red and we still got the Tories. Now Scotland has turned SNP yellow and the Tories are still in power.

 

This was my son?s first general election. The is the first time he got to vote. It was eerily reminiscent of the first time I voted, in 1987.

 

Son, I know you?re a good, decent socialist so I can only say one thing. I know your pain.

Sorry - this whole article is sanctimonious self-righteous nonsense, written by someone who is just bitter because his vote wasnt the one that determined British politics. Just because you can write a legible scrawl doesnt make it a cohesive argument.

'Scotland' didnt turn SNP yellow - conscious people voted for the SNP because they wanted to have their say, because they believed in what they were doing, because they thought it would made a difference. Labour let them down. Just as the Lib Dems let them down. Just as the Tories let them down. 

The 'other' parties continue in defeat as they did in canvassing - blaming and condemning the SNP instead of focusing on their own short-comings. People in glass houses has never been a more apt phrase.

Edited May 10, 2015 by Harry's Roar

[manaliveits105]

England voted Conservative to stop the snp having any power over their affairs in a coalition its not rocket science

[Nookie Bear]

Cannot believe Sturgeon demanding Cameron gives more than the Smith Commission recommendations.

 

Arrogance beyond belief.

[LeftBack]

Cannot believe Sturgeon demanding Cameron gives more than the Smith Commission recommendations.

Arrogance beyond belief.

when did smith commission become tablet of stone? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2015-scotland-32681339

[Gorgiewave]

A former kickback favourite writes...

 

https://www.opendemocracy.net/ourkingdom/shaun-lawson/polls-and-all-but-one-of-forecasts-were-wrong-ed-miliband-was-nowhere-near-b

[Gorgiewave]

Here is the Vow (including a commitment to keep Barnett):

Edited May 10, 2015 by Gorgiewave

[Rand Paul's Ray Bans]

That ****ing word: progressive. Urgh.

[Glamorgan Jambo]

Ain't that the truth,and it takes a Labour rag to nail it.

 

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/po...nvince-5669783

 

WHY did 50 per cent of the electorate vote for a party that caters only for the richest one per cent wonders JOHN NIVEN.

 

I HATE to say it but I had a bad feeling about this one all along.

 

It reminded me very much of 1992, when everyone was stunned as John Major led the Tories to yet another victory.

 

Even David Cameron was astonished by the way the country voted. ?I didn?t quite believe we?d get to the place we?re in this morning,? he said on Friday morning.

 

An overall majority and all three key opposition leaders resigning by lunchtime? I bet he didn?t.

 

And what did this? How did the polls ? that were predicting an incredibly tight result ? get it so very wrong?

 

For one thing, rightly or wrongly, Ed Miliband couldn?t quite convince people he was a leader. But greater than this, and much more sinister, were the shy Tories.

 

They?re people who would be embarrassed to admit to pollsters that they vote Conservative ? because they know in their hearts that they are awful. The party of the selfish and mean-spirited.

 

Sadly, it seems that Britain (with the exception of you know who) is a country full of selfish and mean-spirited people. The kind who would publicly say "oh I?m not voting Tory"? and then skulk into a booth and do just that because they think they?ll be a tiny bit better off.

 

Or because they were scared by the threat of a mansion tax that will never ever affect them. Or scared of immigrants who do not hurt them in any way. Or scared by the idea of Scottish MPs coming to run their country. (Man, the Tories really flogged that one to death. And it worked.)

 

Where did all this self-interest come from? It?s not how I was raised. I grew up believing we were okay as a family and we?d generally be okay because our dad had a good job and worked hard.

 

You didn?t vote for you. You voted to help those who weren?t as lucky as you. And, it must be said, in the hope that if you ever had a bad break, a lost job, a rotten diagnosis, someone would do the same for you.

 

But now we live in a country where you can, as my parents used to say, work all the hours God sends and get nowhere. Because (despite the Tories? claims about all the new jobs they?ve created) you?ll probably be working on minimum wage on a zero-hours contract.

 

Meanwhile, there are people in London who have become millionaires only because their parents bought a house 30 years ago.

 

This is the kind of society the Conservatives love, of course ? a place where wealth is inherited and where the many toil for the benefit of the few.

 

It is a society where the last 10 years have only truly benefited the richest one per cent.

 

And yet more than 50 per cent of the electorate voted for the party that caters to this one per cent.

 

They voted for the party who brought in welfare cuts unseen since the depression, who are destroying the NHS and who introduced the bedroom tax. They voted for their own tiny, narrow bit of self-interest.

 

And isn?t the bedrock of a decent society how we treat the weakest? Isn?t it what we do for others?

 

It seems we?re moving towards the American phenomenon of the right-wing poor ? people on

welfare who vote Republican because they believe the Horatio Alger myth: the idea they are just one stroke of good fortune away from being rich. Who think of themselves not as poor but being, as Steinbeck said, ?temporarily embarrassed millionaires?.

 

Except, as I mentioned, in Scotland. You can choose to view the SNP?s destruction of Labour north of the border as a howl of nationalism. I don?t think it is ? or not just that at any rate. I think it?s a howl of rage at this terrible government and a Labour Party who?ve become much too like it.

 

When I was a boy during Thatcher, you watched elections and wept in disbelief as the whole country turned blue, Scotland turned red and we still got the Tories. Now Scotland has turned SNP yellow and the Tories are still in power.

 

This was my son?s first general election. The is the first time he got to vote. It was eerily reminiscent of the first time I voted, in 1987.

 

Son, I know you?re a good, decent socialist so I can only say one thing. I know your pain.

 

What a load of complete twaddle. Self serving, self pitying and a total lack of awareness of the real world.

[ToadKiller Dog]

Cannot believe Sturgeon demanding Cameron gives more than the Smith Commission recommendations.

 

Arrogance beyond belief.

Why , as the leader of Scotland's largest political party of course she should be arguing for such .